The Monuments Men

Bulla de Villaret
( ? - ? )

An expert on the architecture of Andrea Palladio, Bulla de Villaret
served first as an Art Expert, and later Chief, of the French Art
Restitution Mission for Austria.

De Villaret investigated works of art and other cultural artifacts
looted from France by the Nazis and hidden in the U.S. Zone of
Occupation in Austria. Stationed in Salzburg, he frequently worked
alongside Monuments Woman Evelyn Tucker. At Castle Leopoldskron, these
two Monuments Officers supervised the packing and transportation to
France of French paintings, antique furniture, and twenty-three boxes
containing parts of a massive marble mantelpiece. One of de Villaret and
Tucker’s most notable cases involved the Welz Collection. Consisting of
French sculptures, tapestries, antique furniture, and paintings, the
collection had been illegally purchased by the notorious art dealer
Frederic Welz on orders from Nazi officials. In April 1947, de Villaret
accepted the restitution of 260 art objects on behalf of the French
Government. The remaining parts of the Welz collection, the majority of
which were paintings and rugs Welz resold to private individuals, were
restituted at a later date.

In addition to Welz, de Villaret also interrogated other suspected
dealers of looted art objects, including Dr. Ruprecht, a Nazi expert for
historic arms and armor. During the war, Ruprecht was responsible for
returning to Germany all weapons and armor taken to France by Napoleon.
Through de Villaret’s interrogation of Ruprecht in March 1947, the
French Art Restitution Mission gained valuable intelligence regarding
the purchase of French art objects for Hitler’s planned Führermuseum in
Linz, Austria.

The Foundation is very interested in locating someone by this name
who served as a Monuments Man. If you have any information, please
contact abottinelli@monumentsmenfoundation.org.